São Schlumberger

The Icon Issue # 2

In short,  São was a couture heavy hitter whose personal style and influence swayed public interest and made the careers of many famous designers.  São was a Portuguese woman who married into a wealthy French family. She is best known for her splendid collection of couture, her fabulous lifestyle, and her many luxurious properties. One of her shining moments, according to Andre Leon Talley, is when she allowed her Paris residence to be used- free of charge- for John Galliano’s first show. It was an instant success and it was these 17 looks that launched his amazing career. The Wow of Sao gives us a more nuanced view of her glamorous life. According to this article, São was integrated into the glamorous Parisian lifestyle-yet she never exactly played by the rules.  

“There were three queen bees—Marie-Hélène de Rothschild, Jacqueline de Ribes, and São”- all 3 of which we will get into. 

São was a force who put her money into some of the greatest cultural endeavors of her time, from haute couture to the 1.7 million dollar donation to the restoration of the King’s bedroom of Versailles.